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Posted on 06/14/2002 10:21:48 AM PDT by Polycarp
Well, ready or not, it's finally here. Months of allegations, abuse, finger-pointing, and mudslinging have come down to this one event: the meeting of the American bishops in Dallas this weekend. The decisions that they reach will, for better or for worse, change the face of the American Church, but in the meantime we must get ready to be part of the recovery process.
After it's all over, the Church will need our support more than ever. We may not be able to help the bishops in Dallas this weekend, but we can stand with them in defending our Church against dissenters and naysayers who will continue to use this opportunity to attack the Church's discipline of celibacy in the priesthood.
To that end, CRISIS has put together a list of arguments for priestly celibacy and responses to commonly heard criticisms. We hope it helps you better prepare for the future and the role all of us must play in restoring the moral authority of our Church.
Best,
Deal Hudson
It is completely untrue that celibate priests are more likely to be pedophiles than any other group of men, married or not. Pedophilia affects only 0.3 percent of the population of Catholic clergy, and sexual abusers in general account for less than 2 percent of Catholic priests. These figures are comparable to rates among married men, as non-Catholic scholar Philip Jenkins points out in his book Pedophiles and Priests. Other Protestant denominations have admitted to having similar problems among their own married clergy, so clearly the problem is not with celibacy.
First of all, "celibate priests" are, by definition, not engaging in sexual activity with anybody. Second, I just do not buy into the statistical argument unless the term "pedophilia" is read to exclude "sex" with teenaged boys, in which case perhaps it is true. I don't think that ignoring the problem of active homosexuals in the priesthood is an effective way to defend priestly celibacy.
Would anyone put McBrien on TV if he weren't "catholic?" If the heretics and schismatics had the courage to leave the Church, they'd be nobodies and they can't stand not to be noticed
And, finally IMHO, it will put some pressure on the homosexuals now hiding behind their priestly robes to get out of the closet and hopefully the clergy!
It doesn't exist.
What does exist, is a priesthood made up in large part of active homosexuals. And the Church has done absolutely nothing to root out these miscreants.
Don't tell me about how these priests are upholding Scripture. They aren't---they are getting their sick kicks either with other gay men, or by raping boys.
I was before I was married at 24. It was not impossible for me then, nor is it impossible for priests now. Grow up. Quit living life and believing as if that thing between your legs rules your mind and your soul. It doesn't.
Shouldn't that choice still be between God and the individual priest?
Just as a particular priest might decide to follow a more strict religious regimen (extra fasting, extra praying, etc) than his fellow priests, perhaps a priest might choose to remain celibate.
Eating is not a sin. Gluttony is a sin.
Taking it easy isn't a sin. Sloth is a sin.
Having sex isn't a sin. Having sex outside of marriage is.
Marriage is not a sin, that needs to be avoided, any more than eating is a sin. Priests don't need to fast all the time, out of fear that they will become gluttonous if they eat or that their mealtimes will interfere with their work. Why must all priests avoid marriage all the time?
Servicemen and service women and doctors have lives that demand sacrifices of them. Are we going to say that they can't get married because marriage will interfere with their vocations?
Sorry, even given the sins of some of its shepherds, I'll go with the Church with the authority of Christ over your personal interp based only on the fallible whims of men.
I assume you mean the fallible whims of men like the Pope. According to Paul, church leaders must be married. See 1 Tim 3.
Additionally, if you are married your ability to move up in rank is limited to a certain level.
It just seems, regardless of religion, the left is trying to make god in the left's image.
"According to Paul, church leaders must be married. See 1 Tim 3."
Well, that's the interpretation of some Christians. Other Christians (not Catholics) interpret this to mean that church leaders may not be married more than once. Yet others interpret it as a ban on being married to more than one person at a time. I even ran into a sect that explained how this verse supported optional polygamy (only church leaders must be the husband of no more than one wife - everyone else is free to load up on extras).
So, it seems that faithful, well-meaning people, all trying to follow Jesus Christ, have interpreted this verse in widely diverging ways.
I'm sure that this is what Jesus meant when He prayed that all might be one. That there would be thousands upon thousands of variations of interpretations of the Truth. And that there would be no visible guide to distinguish truth from error. Uh huh.
Well, we Catholics have our own understanding of doctrine, faith, Scripture, and authority. The Catholic interpretation differs from yours. It is a logically reasonable interpretation, and actually fits better with other Scriptures (at least in our view) than does yours. Paul certainly endorses celibacy elsewhere. Jesus states that there will be some that embrace this state for the sake of the Kingdom. A logically coherent reading of these verses would seem to contradict your assertion.
By what authority do you assert that your interpretation (which fits other Scripture less-well) is the correct one?
The peace of Christ be with you,
sitetest
Dear Polycarp:
Wake up. Why do you think the Church is having so hard a time recruiting in its seminaries or why so many hetrosexual priests are leaving the pulpit? Clinging to such an antiquated (and unScripturely sound) ideal as celibacy is only leaving the Roman Church with empty altars--and vacant pews because of it>
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